Best Budget Line Series from Major Company? Worst?

A friend of mind bought a Sterling by Musicman Stingray new for 500 Can$. I'm amazed at the quality.

I recently purchased an MTD Kingston Super 4. Fantastic instrument. MTD offers an upgrade package (electronics and hardware) but I'm not sure it would be worth it.

Squier Classic Vibe is another excellent choice. I think you reach the law of diminishing returns fairly soon on a Fender style instrument.

 

I forgot to mention the PRS SE guitar line which are made in China. Very high quality.

 

If you go off of what people pay for used examples, I think this is the winner. The original MIC Classic Vibe series basses regularly sell for significantly more than they cost new. A Fiesta Red 60s P recently popped up on FB marketplace near me for $20 under new street price and was gone before I had a chance to ask when I could come get it. This is also the case for some of the higher end Sterling Rays.
G&L Tributes also tend to be pretty great but trend toward the heavy side which makes them a no-go for some folks.

 

I have a Warwick Rockbass Corvette that is very good quality.

The Rockbass line has suffered from the easy availability of cheap, used, real Warwicks but they are still good instruments.

Squier Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified series can be excellent for the money if you get a good one.

 

Squire CV line is good, esp for the money. Haven't tried any of the VMs.

 

Actually PRS factory is in Indonesia. They have their own factory built inside the grounds of the cort factory(pretty sure it’s cort) so they have more control of quality control. If I was looking for a new guitar I would look to PRS but I admit their basses are a little lack luster.

 

Skylines are great "budget" Laklands typically. But they're not exactly a budget bass.

Keeping budget to mean budget-friendly I would lean to G&L Tributes and Squier Classic Vibes.

 

Fender's Indonesian factory is putting their Mexican factory to shame these days. I compared a 500 dollar Squier 40th Anniversary P bass to some MIM fenders the other day, and the Squier was better in terms of fit an finish and feel of the neck than any sub 1K MIM i could find there. And cost 500 new.

Honestly it was so nice, i thought the finish on the neck felt as good as my American Professional II jazz, which is sort of depressing to type. The neck absolutely felt more premium than my MIM passive PJ special did out of the factory.

Also, a strong majority of sub 1K MIM fenders ive tried in the last few years has sharp fret ends out of the factory. I have no idea why they are tolerating this when the competition has all figured that out, including their Squier line.

 

Agreed. I’ve owned P basses that ranged from Squier CV to US made Laklands, and in my experience, the returns definitely start diminishing once you get around the $1000 price point. Just my opinion, of course.

 

Really intrigued by the new 32" kingston series. If they made a matte black one I'd be sold. Might pick one up anyways.

 

Relative to the price of Lakland's American products, the Skylines are a pretty good deal.

 

I have a Sterling Ray4 I bought to use at this rough-open mic I used to play at to leave my nicer bass at home. Now it is all I play. Every gig for 3+ years. I did the suggested adjustments, Ernie ball slinky’s, sounds good. The indo made basses are made side by side, different brands & prices. Now days there is not much difference between a $300 bass and a $1000 bass other than the finish.

 

My PRS SE says built by Cor-Tek, China. Is there more than one factory?

 

Peavey Cirrus BXP.

A friend was coming to visit and on her drive to Scotland made a detour to grab a Cirrus BXP 'darkwood'. At the time Gillian owned 5 US Cirrus basses while I owned 6, suffice to say we knew the US Cirrus models well.

Said Cirrus 'darkwood' was put through it's paces by both of us over the weekend.

It looked like a US Cirrus, played like one, sounded like one and felt like one.

Holy Smokes , she got one heck of a bass for £199 used.

 

PRS SE (Student Edition) East Java Indonesia and Dalian China guitars are manufactured by Cor-Tek Musical Instrument Company. The Korean guitars are manufactured by the World Musical Instrument Company. These factories are production facilities for a wide range of marques. The USA-made guitars are made in Paul Reed Smith’s factory in Stevensville, Maryland.

 

I own a G&L L2000 Tribute made in 2003 in Korea. I stumbled onto it. Got it for a song. To me, it feels, sounds and looks every bit as good as USA ones. I played over a dozen USA. Lightweight IMO at 8.2 lbs. Forever bass fo sho.

Dunno if this qualifies. I also have Squier Paranormal 54 Jazz. China. Excellent build quality at the cost.

 

Indonesia actually